Portland hotel fire leads to 2nd arson indictment

PORTLAND — A 19-year-old woman is the second person indicted for arson from a Dec. 14, 2013 fire at the Hampton Inn at 209 Fore St.

Olivia Richards, formerly of Cumberland Avenue, faces a Class A arson charge after a Cumberland County grand jury handed up an indictment Sept. 5.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. It is a determination enough evidence exists to prosecute.

Richards is charged, along with Portland resident Kaylee Howland, with putting a TV remote control into a microwave oven after a dispute with a guest. Court records indicate the fire that resulted caused $3,100 in damage to the room.

Howland was indicted in March. Richards, who is now being held at the Two Bridges Jail in Wiscasset, faces a trial in early November, according to court records.